Handwriting Help!

[Fatman]

Can anyone read the text next to 11?

It says:
"Yes"
and then top line reads "Militia Reserve 4 years"

But the bottom line?

Thanks
Andrew

[snoopysue]

Here's what I get:
"yes, 5 KRK's (SR) 5 years........discharge"

The KRK could be KRR though, they look very similar!

[Maths girl]

Here's what I get:
"yes, 5 KRK's (SR) 5 years........discharge"

The KRK could be KRR though, they look very similar!

Is the missing word? -- purchased?

What is the question for no 11? that might give us a context

[snoopysue]

Is the missing word? -- purchased?

What is the question for no 11? that might give us a context

Purchased looks right to me!

[apowell]

Hi,

It reads 5 KRRS- Kings Royal Rifle Regiment for 5 years and purchased discharge. The 5 may indicate the 5th Battalion of the KRRS

This means he served with the Kings Royal Rifles Regiment for 5 years but had agreed to serve for longer (7 years) but had paid the army monies to end his service early.

Regards
Adrian

[apowell]

Hi again,

I was just thinking after I posted if you would like us to look over his service records why not post his details on our military section. I'm confident given that we have his service papers lots of information regarding his involement during the war could be found out from the documents.

Regards
Adrian

[Fatman]

Adrian, I think ive seen his records on Ancestry

Do you mean you will be able to provide more than this?

Thanks evryone for you help!

Andrew

[apowell]

Hi Andrew,

Yes we should be able to offer much more information but first I need his details eg. Name, DOB, Place of Birth etc to check

Regards
Adrian

[Fatman]

Thanks Adrian -

Job Gowler b July 3 1874 Bury, Huntingdonshire
S/244 51244
1st Bn. East Kent Regt. (The Buffs).
Buried in the Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Zillebeke, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Married Sarah Jane Wimpress

[apowell]

Hi Andrew,

Job's service records are in a pretty bad conditon and very difficult to read but I can give you some further information:

Enlisted
1 year short service
Canterbury, Kent- 1st September 1914

Descripton
Height 5 ft 6''
Age: 38 years 1 month
Complexion: Fresh
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Black
Features: Scar right of head
Trade: Labourer
Church of England

Medical History
Examined 1st September 1914 at Canterbury, Kent:
Physical Development: Good
Approved for service

Mobilized
9th September 1914, 3rd Battalion East Buffs Regiment, Home
27th September 1914, 1st Battalion East Buffs Regiment, France
7th June 1915, 1st Battalion East Buffs Regiment, France, Killed in Action (One on right side of head)

Medals Awarded
1914 Star, British & Victory medals issued to wife.
Kings & Queens Medals

All personnel belongings sent:
Mrs S.J. Gowler
New Cottages, Clenchwarton, Kings Lynn, Norfolk

The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
Battalions of the Regular Army
1st Battalion
August 1914 : in Fermoy. Part of 16th Brigade, 6th Division

6th Division
At the request of French Commander-in-Chief Joffre, on 7-8 June 1915, the British Second Army extended its left to Boesinghe, thus placing it for the first time in complete occupation of the Ypres salient. The British 6th Division was a Regular Army division that was sent to France on 9 September 1914. It served on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War, first seeing action in the First Battle of Ypres as part of III Corps. In 1915 the division moved into the Ypres Salient to relieve troops that had fought in the Second Battle of Ypres.

It looks like sadly Job was killed while the Division was given the task of holding the line in the Ypres Salient prior to launching the assault on Hooge in July of that year. It states on his service records a wound was received to the head but no date given so I'm unsure if this had been a previous wound.

Interestingly Job was also awarded the Kings & Queens Medals which tells us that he had served in the Boer War of 1899-1902 and this fits in with his previous military information of serving with the Kings Royal Rifles. I've checked and a few Battalions of the Kings Royal Rifles saw action in the Boer war so I would assume he was a soldier in one of these Battalions.

Your relative was a professional soldier who saw action in two campaigns and enlisted on the outbreak of war when given his age he most likely wouldn't have been conscripted.

Please add Job's details to our roll of honour.

Hope this helps
Adrian

[apowell]

Hi,

I found Job's service records for 1894 when he enlisted in the Bedford Regiment but was discharged (not likely to be an efficient soldier) after 111 days and interestingly on his records he mentions enlisting prior with the 5th Battalion of the Kings Royal Rifles. He proved them wrong and went on to serve in two campaigns but I'm still not sure which Regiment he saw action with in South Africa.

I'm 100% sure the 5th Battalion of the Kings Royal Rifles saw action in South Africa during the Boer War so most likely he re-enlsted with them.

I'm thinking given his age maybe he enlisted under age in the Kings Royal Rifles and re-enlisted for the Boer War later.
Regards
Adrian

[Fatman]

Thanks for your help Adrian!